Introducing: Go Lounge, Parkdale’s new board game café

The never-ending line for a table at Snakes and Lattes convinced Samantha Lerner and Alisa Sadler, friends and patrons of the Annex café, that the appetite for board game–centric spots was far from sated. Although Leslieville initially seemed like a good neighbourhood to launch their own contribution to the genre, the pair finally settled on the western edge of Parkdale for Go Lounge, which opened last week (given the recent ban on new openings on the strip, it’ll be one of the last places to open there for a while). Lerner and Sadler are aiming to keep the café a kid-friendly space during the day, while at night—especially after their liquor licence kicks in—a slightly rowdier crowd of board gamers can take over.

The 30-seat space features exposed brick walls, brightly coloured chairs and a custom-built reclaimed wood bar. Photographs from local artist Mathew Marrett dot the walls, while the games themselves—there are some 350—act as a vivid backdrop to the café. Unlike at Snakes and Lattes, Lerner and Sadler have opted not to charge a cover fee. For those in need of a pick-me-up during a marathon game of Risk, Go has a roster of panini served on Ace Bakery bread. The prosciutto version ($8) features provolone, slices of tomato and arugula, and comes with either kettle chips or mixed greens; other options include apple, cheddar and honey ($7) and banana and Nutella ($5). There’s also Detour–roasted coffee and baked goods from Circles and Squares, which will soon be joined by a late-night snack menu for those furious Settlers of Catan sessions. With large groups already booking weekend spots, we have a feeling this end of Parkdale is about to get a little busier.